Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-06
THE CASE OF DILLON.
CONTINUATION OF THE DEBATE IN
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Government Opposes the Appoint
ment of IA Special Committee and Says
Dillon should Appeal to the Courts
Gladstone Defends Him,

LONDON, May 4.-In the House of Com
mons today Sir Edward Clarke, solicitor
general, moved an amendment to the gov
ernments proposal to the effect that the
House did not consider the Times state
ments concerning Dillon breach of priv
llege, and justifying his action i9 offering
the amendment. Sir Edward declared
there was no record of Parliament having
committed to custody for breach of priv
ilege such as the action of the Times was
now alleged to be. lie added he and the
attorney general were responsible for ad-
vice on which the government had acted.
He proposed to contine himself to the legal
points of the case regardless of party poll
tics. He then quoted precedents to show
the House was not the proper tribunal to
deal with such matters. No corruption
had been alleged of the member, nor had
any contempt of the House been exhibit
ed, such rs had constituted an offence in
the previous cases when Il breach of privi-
lege had been committed.
Sir Charles Russell contended that as
Dillon's conduct in the House had been
attacked, that fact constituted breach
of privileges and it was the duty of the
House and primarily incumbent on the
government leader of the House Mr.
SMITH to take action to protect the honor
! of Its members.
! Lord Randolph Churchill admitted
! that the case presented a prinlG tdcje
| breach of privilege but thought the House
was not refusing judicial inquiry. The diff
| ference was as to the form of inquiry to be
| adopted. Ii the government leader in the
! House was charged with not taking pr-
mary action on behalf of the House for
breach of privilege committed against one
of the members he could retort that it was
! the leader of the opposition who ought to
have been expected to protect his friends,
| having taken the lead outside of the
House in the agitation for the repeal of
| the union.
Mr.. Gladstone-''I emphatcally repu-
diate the assertion of his lordship."
Lord Randolph-"Iti is true, however"
He then proceeded to argue that it
would be unwise for the House to go be
yond the action the government had pro
posed. The action of the House, If the
Times publisher should be brought before
the bar would in no wise curb or control
the great power welded by the press of
the country.
y Mr.. Storr, radical and newspaper pro-
prietor-"You can try to suppress the
press of Ireland" Parnellite cheers
Lord Randolph Churchill-"How would
the committee of inquiry be constituted ?
Would it be proposed that members of the
National league be put upon 1t p Cries
of Certainly"
nothing in the whole history OF jury pack
ing like it. Beside. the powers of the
committee would not be equal to those of
a court of law"
Dillon said he did not consider ordinary
tribunals of England in the present state
of political feeling on the Irish question
fairly open TO the members of the Irish
party in the House of Commons.
He therefore maintained he had right to
be heard before the committee. He must
decline TO take proceedings in civil action
against the Times, because he believed he
mad no chance of obtaining a verdict. If
on the other hand select committee of the
members of the House should be appoint
ed to hear the case he would be content it
should be so constituted as not To include
a single Irish member. Gladstone in
. timated that in the event of the adoption
of Sir Edward Clarke's motion he would
move an amendment to the main question
to the effect that an inquiry be made by
the committee into the charges of wilful
falsehood in the speech delivered in the
House brought in an article by the Times
against Dillon.